द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं च कर्णं तथान्यानपि योधवीरान् । मया हतांस्त्वं जहि मा व्यथिष्ठा युध्यस्व जेतासि रणे सपत्नान् ॥
droṇaṃ ca bhīṣmaṃ ca jayadrathaṃ ca karṇaṃ tathānyānapi yodhavīrān | mayā hatāṃstvaṃ jahi mā vyathiṣṭhā yudhyasva jetāsi raṇe sapatnān ||
Translation
Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna, and the other warrior heroes — already slain by Me — kill them. Do not be distressed. Fight! You shall conquer your enemies in battle.
Interpretation
Named specifically: Drona (the teacher), Bhishma (the grandsire), Jayadratha (the Sindhu king), Karna (the great warrior and rival) — all already slain by time and destiny (maya hatams — slain by Me). Arjuna is to strike — not create death, but be the instrument of deaths already determined. Ma vyathistha — do not be distressed. Yudhyasva — fight. Jetasi — you shall conquer. These three words convey the complete message: release distress, engage with duty, trust the outcome. This is the Gita's entire teaching condensed into one moment.